Machine stand and cabinet



Jam, 2%, 1936 J. E. BALES MACHINE STAND AND CABINET Filed April 12, 19345 Sheets-Sheet l 3%35- J; E. BALES MACHINE STAND AND CABINET Filed April12, 1954 5 Sheets$heet 2 11531.1 F1191 mil Jam, 28, E936. J. E. BALESMACHINE STAND AND CABINET 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 12, 1934 PatentedJan. 23, 193% FATNT QFFEQE James E. Bales, Aurora, lit, assignor to LyonMetal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, Ill., a

corporation of Illinois Application April 12, 1934, Serial No. 720,187

11 Claims.

This invention reiates to a machine stand, and particularly to a standfor slot machines, other machines, and/or display devices or otherobjects.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved stand for machines, such as slot machines, which stand providessuitable means for mounting the machine and at the same time providesmeans manually operative for automatically and completely enclosing themachines when required whereby to prevent pilfering or unauthorizedremoval of the machine, such as a slot machine, whereby the machine ismaintained in one position for operation and use when desirable andwhich provides a theft-resisting enclosure at times when the machine isnot to be operated so as to prevent pilfering and unauthorized removal.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a base or supportfor a machine, such as a slot machine, to support the machine in apredetermined position, the support adapted to move by gravity upon themanipulation of control means at v time the support will move by gravityinto a housing for the machine. There are means provided for raising thesupport by the operation of a crank.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a neat, compact,theft-resisting enclosure for a slot machine which enclosure is providedwith means for supporting the machine in a predetermined operableposition, the means being provided for raising and lowering the machineas desired and for completely locking the enclo- 35 sure when themachine support and machine are housed in the enclosure.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout theprogress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of theinvention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view of the improved closure and having aslot machine mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the slot machine housed within the closureand the cover or lid locked in position.

50 Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 56 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a detail transverse sectional view on the lines 'l--'l ofFigs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail plan section on the line 3-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line S 9 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical sectional View on the line ll0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a detail elevational view, partly in section, of the ratchetand gear showing the manner in which the cables are fastened thereto.

Fig. 12 is a detail elevational view showing the manner in which thefree ends of the cables are attached to the machine supporting frame.

The device herei shown for the purpose of illustration comprises acabinet 1 made up of four enclosing side walls 2 and a top 3 whichincludes a hinged cover or lid 4. The cabinet I has its side walls 2made of sheet metal of suit able thickness. The lower free edges of theside walls are bent over to provide inwardly extending flanges 5.Fastening means 8 extend through the flanges 5, more clearly shown inFig. 5, to fix the cabinet to a suitable base or floor I.

The top 3 may be formed by bending inwardly the upper free edges of theside walls 2 to provide the surrounding surfaces 8. The surfaces 8extend inwardly from the front and sides of the cabinet to the edge ofthe opening. The opening is closed by the lid it which is hinged at illto the rear side wall. A frame or platform H, Figs. 3 and adapted tosupport a machine It, such as a slot machine, cash register or the like,is adapted to move vertically in the cabinet I. The supporting frame IIhas athree-sided channel-shaped member 53 fixed thereon to slidinglyreceive the base l t of the machine I2, the base being slidinglyinserted in the member it from the rear side of the cabinet. The machinel2 is provided with a clip 15 on its rear side which is adapted toengage the flange IS on the inner side of the lid at the free endthereof when the machine is raised as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Thus,when the machine is in its normal operating position outside of thecabinet, the machine will be supported on three sides by the member 13and locked at its rear end by the engagement of the clip 5 with theflange l6. Clip l5 prevents the door being pulled away from the back ofthe slot machine when the latter is in an open, operating position. Thebase 84 of the machine may be fixed to the cabinet by fastening screwsll having their heads I8 recessed in openings is, Fig. 4. The openingsabove the heads 18 may be filled with'suitable material to preventaccess from being had to the heads of the fastening members andtherefore prevent unauthorized removal of the slot machine. As seen inFigure 3, the flange i6 is to the left of the pivot iii when the cover tis in its fully opened position. The action of gravity upon the flangetends to move the cover counterclockwise to closed position.Accordingly, as the machine 52 descends, the cover follows bearingthereagainst, and the cover is automatically moved to closed position bygravity as the machine moves into the cabinet.

The means for operating the platform i l to bring.

the machine !2 into and out of the cabinet l comprises a transverseshaft 2! arranged inside of the cabinet near the front thereof and'underthe front edge 3. Theshaft M is' rotatably mounted in suitable bearingsfixed to the side walls of the cabinet. Cable winding drums 22 and 23are fastened to opposite ends of the shaft 2! as'clearly'showninFig. 8.Cables 25 and 25 have their ends faste'ned'to the drums 22 and 23respectivelyand passover idler pulleys 26 and 2? respectively. The endsof the cables t and 25 is held in'a predetermined position by a lug 33formed on each drum, Fig. 11. The cables 2d and 25 are adapted to bewound and unwound on the drums 22 and and are received in proper guidinggrooves formedin'the drums. The cables extend from the underside .of thedrums 22 and 23 and pass over the uppersides oftheir respectiveidlerpulleys 26 and 27. The free ends of thecables 24 and 25 pass through theplatform carrier 3 1, the carrier -34 comprising a frame made -:ofconnected angles. .Each of the cables has its end passing through anopening 35 in the carrier/34, the same being fixed to a rod 36 which isscrew threaded as indicated at 3?, Fig. ,A spring :38 is interposedbetween the bottom of the-carrier and a washer 39 which is mountedagainst'the fasten'ingnutsilii. The cables 25 and 5 operativelyconnectthe'rear side of the carrier 1 34 to the winding drums 22 and.The front side :of the carrier 34 is connected to the'd'rums 22z-and23by two cables 4.! fastenedtothe respecti-veidrurns 22 and 23. The cablesz-l pass about 65 or the'pawl Fig. 9, passes through an' opening :55-:in oneof the sidewalls 2 of the cabinet. The pawl :23 cooperating withthe ratchet d2 :keeps the shaft from rotating and maintainsthecarrierand its supporting platform in a predetermined-position. Theratchet is freeto slide the ratchet tooth when the cables are woundonthe druinsto raise the platform. This ratchet pawl prevents thecarrierand its cooperating ol'atforrre from lowering except when Thedrum 7 descent of the machine in the cabinet.

the pawl is out of engagement with the teeth. 7 The ratchet 42 alsocomprises an internal ring gear M which meshes with an operating pinion58, Figs, 9 and 10. The pinion 48 is revolubly 'mounted in a suitablebearing 49 fastened to the cabinet and having a part 53 thereofextending outwardly of the casing. An operating crank 5! having a handle52 is adapted to operate the pinion :38. The crank 5!, the handle 52 andthe pinion &8, are preferably made as a single unit. The pinion part ofthis single unit is inserted into the bearing 49 whenever it is desiredto raise the platform. When the pinion 4B is inserted into the bearingit and rotated by the handle 5i, the shaft 2i will rotate and wind thetwo cables ii and the cables 24 and 25 on the drumsEZ and 23. As thecables are being wound, the carrier and platform ii will be raised.vWhen it is desired to lower the platform H and its cooperating carrier3%, the pawl 53 is released from the e ratchet 2. The pawl 63 can beconveniently released from the ratchet i=2 by usingxthecrank 5!. Forthis latter purpose the crank 5! is provided with anloperating end'tlfi.The end 53.may

be inserted in the part of the opening above the upper edge of thetaii-piece 45, Fig. 9, and a leverage appliedon the tail-piece.Obviously the tail-piece 65 may be released by pressing down thereonbyrnanual movement.

To prevent the carrier and platform with the machine 52 mounted thereonfrom dropping and falling when the pawl 43 is released from the ratchetmeans are provided to retard the downward movement of the carrier 3%toallow the carrier an its descend without shoclt1or'jar. Means forpre-. ventin the quick dropping ofthe carrier and for permittingretarded and cushioned movement of the carrier in its downwardmovement'coniprises a'dash potE i mounted inside of the cabinet as shownin Figs. 5, 6 and '7, the construction of the dash pot being moreclearly shown in Fig. 6. i The dash pot 54 comprises a cylinder 55having a closed upper" end 56. The cylinder '55 contains a fluid, suchas oil, and a spring 5? is arranged inr side of the cylinder and engagesthe piston 58 cooperating platform to 5 which has slidable movement inthe cylinder. A

rod 59 is fastened to the piston and passes lar member 6 having openings55 therein-.anda' lower member 58 having openings 6?. Suitable packing68 is provided between the -memberst!i and Etas clearly shown in Fig. 6.During raising or lowering of the piston 53 in the cylinder 55 it' isnecessaryrfor the fluid in the'cylindertopass through the openings and67. Therefore the rod '59 is only free to move a speed'equal to thedisplacement of the fluid in the cylinder from'one side of the piston tothe other side of the piston. A carriage 69 having wheels it slidable ina vertical guideway H supports the bottom of the rod 59 as indicated at'82 and limits'the speed of The carriage 69 is provided with anextension l3 to which there is fastened .a cable it as, indicated at75," a Fig. 6. The other end of thecable'isfastened to a drum FE whichis fixed to the shaft The V drum 16 is smaller than the'druins 22 and'23 because it is not necessary that the carriage 55' travel the samedistance as the carrier 34. The cable "it winds in a directionoppesiteto the'cable 4i? so that when the cables 4E wind on theirrespective drums, the cable 14 will unwind on its drum 13. Therefore,when the shaft 2i is rotated to wind the cables til, 24 and to raise theplatform ii to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the carriage69 will be lowered to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3. Whenthe ratchet pawl 43 is released from the ratchet wheel 42, the cableswhich support the carrier 34 will unwind, but the cable 14 will wind onits drum 16. Inasmuch as the ledge $3 is in engagement with the lowerend of the rod 59, the carrier 34 and its cooperating platform H and themachine l2 cannot descend rapidly because the carriage 69 is operatingagainst the rod 59 and the rod 59 cannot move rapidly on account of therestricted orifices 55 and 8?. The descent of the machine therefore isrestricted by the displacement of the fluid in the cylinder 55 passingfrom one side of the piston to the other. As the machine descends, thepiston ascends and the speed of the shaft 2! will be limited andrestricted and synchronized with the movement of the piston 53.Therefore the machine cannot descend at a rate faster than the ascensionof the piston.

The dash pot and its cooperating guideway is fixed to a supportingbracket 7? fastened to the front side 2 of the cabinet by the fasteningmembers l3. Straps 79, Fig. '7, support the dash pct 55. in position onthe face of the bracket.

Locking means 83, preferably of the spring lock type, Fig. 1, isprovided for automatically locking the lid or cover 2 in closedposition. Optional locking means 8!, Figs. 9 and 10, comprising a drawbolt 82, may be provided to prevent some one from tampering with thepawl 83. When the draw bolt 82 is in position to extend over the top ofthe pawl 33, the pawl cannot be lifted out of engagement with theratchet wheel 2.

Operation The machine [2 is securely fastened to the platform H due tothe engagement of the machine with the members 13 and the fasteningmembers H. The machine is positioned from the rear side of the cabinet,being slid into the guides 13. The pawl is then released and the machinedescends to the bottom of the cabinet as shown in dotted lines in Fig.5, the descent of the machine being checked by the dash pot 54. The lidor cover 4 then closes and the lock 80 operates. The machine istherefore totally enclosed within the cabinet and is protected againstpilfering and unauthorized operation. The cabinet can not be movedbecause it is fixed to a suitable supporting base, such as a floor. Whenit is desired to raise the machine out of the cabinet, the single unitcomprising the crank 5| and its related pinion lfl is rotated, it beingunderstood, of course, that the cabinet door is first unlocked. As thecrank M is rotated, the shaft 2| will rotate and cause the carrier 34 torise carrying the machine with it and causing the carriage 69 to lower.The piston will then be lowered by the action of the spring 51. Theupper edge of the machine will engage the underside of the lid 4 andcause the lid to swing open as the machine rises. At the end of theupward travel, there being suitable limit stops, the clip I5 on themachine will engage the flange it on the lid and the machine will be inits normal operative position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The handle isthen removed. The machine therefore will remain in the position shown inFig. 1 until it is desired to again lower the machine into the casing bymanual operation of the release or control 45. During rotation of theshaft 2| to raise the machine, the cable 14 will unwind from the drum16. Therefore the carriage G9 will be at the bottom of its travel asshown in full lines in Fig. 3. The end of the rod will remain againstthe ledge 13, being pushed there by the spring 57. When the machine isto be again lowered and locked inside of the cabinet, the pawl isreleased from the ratchet in the manner previously de scribed at whichtime the weight of the machine on the supporting carrier 34 will causethe machine to descend by gravity, the speed of the descent beinggoverned by the dash pot 55. The lid 4 automatically descends by gravityto closed, locked position, the crank 5| having been previously removed.The machine will then be completely enclosed to protect againstpilfering or unauthorized removal thereof from its totally enclosedcabinet.

The invention provides simple and relatively inexpensive means fortotally enclosing a slot machine to prevent pilfering and unauthorizedremoval thereof at such times when the machine is not to be operated.The device is relatively economical to manufacture, is strong anddurable in construction and is positive and efficient in operation.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of theparts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificingany of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all suchchanges as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A stand for machines such as slot machines and the like comprising acabinet, a support for the machine arranged inside of the cabinet, aframe on the support slidably receiving the machine, a door for thecabinet, and means on the door and machine and interlocking with eachother.

2. A stand for machines such as slot machines and the like comprising acabinet, 2. support for the machine arranged inside of the cabinet, a 1

frame on the support slidably receiving the machine, a door for thecabinet, means on the door and machine and interlocking with each other,and means for moving the support vertically, said next to last namedmeans interlocking and disengaging upon rising or lowering movement ofthe machine.

3. The combination with a machine having an operating member, a housingtherefor, means for supporting the machine in operative position outsideof said housing, manually operable control means, and mechanism operatedby said control means for causing said machine to move intotamper-resisting position within said housing, and means for lockingsaid machine in such position comprising a door member which follows themovement of the machine and a look therefor.

4. The combination with a machine, an enclosing cabinet having anopening, means for supporting the machine through said opening inoperative position outside said cabinet, manually operable means,mechanism operable upon actuation of said manually operable means foreffecting movement of said machine to a housed position within saidcabinet, a door for said cabinet opening, locking means for said doorwhen closed, said door being urged into engagement with the machine formovement therewith to closed position as said machine moves into saidhousing.

5. The combination with a machine having an operating member, a housingadapted to enclose said machine, said housing having a closure,

means for projecting the machine from an en-' closed position Withinsaid housing to a supported position outside said housing to permit theoperation of the member of said machine,

and manually operated means causing the movement of said machine to aposition within said housing and the closing of said closure, andlatchcontrolled means i or looking said machine in such position toprotect against access thereto, said locking means being renderedoperative immediately upon the arrival of the machine within thehousing. r 6. The combination with a cabinet having an opening, a dooradapted to close said opening, a macmn'e support mounted within'saidcabinet, a

machine mounted on said support, means housed within said cabinet,including a detachable member projecting through the wall of saidcabinet and operablefrom outside of said cabinet for, projecting saidmachine through said opening into an operative position outside of saidcabinet, said door being arranged With respect to said machine wherebyupon projection of said machine through said opening, said door isopened, means including a manually operable member projecting throughthe wall of said cabinet and operable from outside of said cabinet forcausing the movement of said machine into said cabinet, and the closingof said door, and lock controlled latching means for said door.

'7, In combination with a cabinet having an opening at its top, amachine support within said cabinet, a machine mounted on said support,

means housed within said'cabihet and including a detachable memberoperative fronithe outside of said cabinet for raising said support andsaid machine through-said opening to an operative position outside ofsaid cabinet, a top hinged to said cabinet and adapted to be contactedbyrthe machine to be raised to open position by the raising of saidmachine, and means for causing the gravity-operated descent of saidmachine into said cabinet and thefclosing of said top, said means beinghoused Within the cabinet and including a portion operable from theoutside of said oabinet'by manual actuation, and means for locking thetop when closed.

8. The combination with a cabinet, means for .member operable fromoutside of said cabinet,

and means for rendering said release member inoperative. 1

9.'The combination with a totally ,enclosed cabinet having an opening inone enclosing wall thereof, and a door hingedly connected to saidcabinet, said door being normally urged toward closing position, thecombination with amachine adapted to be totally enclosed within thecabinet, and means for moving the machine into and out of said opening,said machine being adapted to contact said door whereby simultaneouslyto close and open said door upon movement of the machine into and out ofthe cabinet.

10. In a device of the class described, a cabinet having an openingtherein, a door for closing said opening, latching means for latchingsaid 7 7 door in closed position, a support mounted for movement withinsaid cabinet, an object mounted on said support, means for moving saidsupport to move the object from a position within thecabinet to aposition wherein the object ex tends outside of the cabinet through saidopening, said door member being movable with the object to closedposition simultaneously as the object reaches a position within thecabinet.

11. In a device of the class described, a cabinet having an openingtherein, a door for clos ing said opening, a support mounted formovement within said cabinet, an object mounted on said support, meansfor moving said support to move the object from. a position within thecabinet to a position wherein the object extends outside of the cabinetthrough said opening, and interengageable means upon the object and saiddooradapted to be engaged as the object reaches its exposed positionwhereby the object retains the door in position and the doorretains theob-' jectin position upon its support.

JAMES E. BALES.

